JP Morgan Chase Converts 2.9m WaMu Accounts In Pacific Northwest

Published: 01-Jun-2009

JP Morgan Chase has successfully upgraded products and technology in the Pacific Northwest to link 343 former Washington Mutual (WaMu) branches with more than 3,200 other Chase branches. The conversion of 2.9 million accounts in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Utah follows conversion of 20 million credit card accounts onto Chase computer systems, thus increasing effectiveness and reducing costs in the process.

To ensure high-quality customer service, more than 1,100 Chase tellers and bankers traveled from around the country to work side by side with 6,300 counterparts in the Pacific Northwest, supplementing 100,000 hours of training on the new software and hardware. 

The Pacific Northwest conversion is the first of three retail conversions to bring all WaMu branches onto the Chase's computer systems and under the Chase brand. By the end of 2009, customers will have full access to 25 million checking accounts at any of more than 5,000 Chase branches and 14,500 Chase ATMs across the country.

Charlie Scharf, Head of Retail Financial Service at Chase, part of JPMorgan Chase, said: “Our employees have done terrific work in converting 2.9 million accounts in record time, just 33 weeks after we acquired WaMu's banking operations. We are creating better service and convenience for our customers while becoming more efficient.”

JPMorgan Chase acquired the banking operations of Washington Mutual from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation in September, 2008.